Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Imagine you could work efficiently with others outside your office on workset-enabled Revit files without being within the same network infrastructure or connected together via VPN. Wouldn’t that be cool?

I’m not implying this will work (yet) but I think it’s actually possible. See for yourself by clicking here! Note that this is a temporary URL and will only work for a short period of time after this post. If testing is successful, I’ll follow up with details.

I think it will work, but the issue is going to be connection speed. You should check out this model hosting system by Collaboration Systems Group. http://www.civilsystemsgroup.com/revitmodelhosting.htmThe key here is using Riverbed's Steelhead devices for WAN acceleration. Revit Server isn't even needed in this scenario.

We've done some tests and it's actually working. I cannot stay it's 100% stable, but considering we have 3 separate networks (one for each local server for 2 users and one central server on another public network), it's very promising. Securing the Admin panel will be the next task.

Not sure why that is happening. A while ago I was testing with my buddy Daniel in Canada and it was doing the same thing. Then all of a sudden, it quit giving us errors and worked fine both on RAC2011 and RAC2012 Beta. I suspect that either the local server has not yet received all files or there is some problem with the internet connections.

I am currently at work and can create folders on my Local server just fine (and they go to my Central Server, which is at home on another network). I just created a folder named "Adam Test by Dave" to verify.

Adam, I would make sure to disable Windows Firewall too and see if it works. I believe all that's needed really is to open up port 80 for http and perhaps port 443 for https traffic, but disabling the firewall would easily confirm that it is a port issue. Then you can start narrowing down which one. I'm gong to try and see if I can find some other info. through my router's log files tonight to see exactly which ports need to be opened/forwarded.

FYI, there is an project being promoted in the ArchiCAD Group on LinkedIn to get people from a minimum of two thirds of all time zones to collaborate on an experimental project using the Graphisoft BIM Server.

You may need to join the group to see the discussion here: http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Get-connected-global-experimental-worldwide-796267%2ES%2E46918302?view=&gid=796267&type=member&item=46918302&trk=EML_anet_di_pst_ttle

Correct, right now I have it all open but in actual practice, you'd want to lock the admin panel down. In a public setting like this experiment though, I don't know how you would lock it since it seems you can only use Windows authentication:

People often tell me that motivation doesn't last, and I tell them that bathing doesn't either. That's why I recommend it daily. - Zig Ziglar

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Your value is not in what you hold on to, it's in what you let go of.

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To get what you've never had, you must do what you've never done.

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If they don't understand you, you haven't said anything. That's the essense of communication. - William Wayne Caudill, FAIA, reporting how an air traffic controller once explained the importance of two-way communication.

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....Architects like McDonough are evidence of the fact that design which is great in any aspect comes first and foremost from the philosophy, vision, and expertise of the designers. Without this, even the smartest technological tools cannot help to create good design. - AECbytes 2007, Issue 32